Newly elected Japanese ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) President Shinzo Abe smiles as he settles into the presidential seat at the LDP headquarters in Tokyo September 20, 2006. Abe, a conservative advocate of a more muscular Japanese foreign policy, was overwhelmingly elected ruling party leader on Wednesday, setting the stage for him to be chosen as prime minister next week. [Reuters]  

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe, the front runner to become Japan's next prime minister, delivers a speech at Tokyo's Akihabara district in this September 9, 2006 file photo. Shinzo Abe, a staunch advocate of a bigger say for Japan in global affairs, was poised to win a ruling party leadership contest on September 20, 2006, setting the stage for his election as prime minister next week. [Reuters]

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe smiles during a news conference at Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's official residence in Tokyo September 20, 2006. Shinzo Abe, a staunch advocate of a bigger say for Japan in global affairs, was poised to win a ruling party leadership contest on Wednesday, setting the stage for his election as prime minister next week

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe arrives at the ruling Liberal Democratic Party headquarters in Tokyo to attend the party's presidential election September 20, 2006. Shinzo Abe, a staunch advocate of a bigger say for Japan in global affairs, was poised to win a ruling party leadership contest on Wednesday, setting the stage for his election as prime minister next week

A campaign poster of Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe and other candidates is displayed at the entrance of the headquarters of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in Tokyo September 20, 2006. Abe, a staunch advocate of a bigger say for Japan in global affairs, was poised to win a ruling party leadership contest on Wednesday, setting the stage for his election as prime minister next week. Abe, set to become Japan's first prime minister born after World War Two, has pledged to rewrite Japan's pacifist constitution, forge even tighter security ties with close ally Washington, and put patriotism back in Japanese classrooms

A shop assistant walks past television sets, showing Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe during the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's presidential election, at an electrical retailer shop in Tokyo September 20, 2006. Abe, a staunch advocate of a bigger say for Japan in global affairs, was poised to win a ruling party leadership contest on Wednesday, setting the stage for his election as prime minister next week.

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe bows to parliamentarians of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) after he was chosen as the party president at the LDP parliamentarian meeting, at the party headquarters in Tokyo September 20, 2006. Abe, a proponent of a more assertive Japanese diplomacy and respect for traditional values, was elected ruling party president on Wednesday, setting the stage for his election as prime minister next week

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe (2nd R) shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi (2nd L) and other presidential election candidates Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki (R) and Foreign Minister Taro Aso, after Abe was chosen as the party president at the ruling Liberal Democratic Party parliamentarian meeting at the party headquaters in Tokyo September 20, 2006. Abe, an advocate of a bigger say for Japan in global affairs, was elected president of Japan's ruling party by an overwhelming majority on Wednesday, setting the stage for his election as prime minister next week

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe (R), flanked by Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, gestures after he was elected as head of ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) at the LDP headquarters in Tokyo September 20, 2006. Abe, a conservative advocate of a more muscular Japanese foreign policy, was overwhelmingly elected as ruling party leader on Wednesday, setting the stage for him to be chosen prime minister next week